Apr 24
Mar 06
LEGO Automaton: LEGONardo da Vinci
Posted in: Today's ChiliThis awesome LEGO robot was inspired by 18th Century Swiss watch and automata creators Pierre Jacquet-Droz and Henri Maillardet. It is a LEGO automaton that draws sketches on paper and comes from the mind of Italian robot maker Daniele Benedettelli.
He is made from LEGO bricks and actuated by Lego Mindstorms NXT. Fittingly, he is named LEGOnardo. If you’ve ever seen Hugo, or read The Invention of Hugo Cabret, it’s clear that its builder drew inspiration from that story. The drawings that the robot creates on paper are the product of custom software that Daniele designed himself. He can draw far better than I can.
Check out the video above to see LEGOnardo in action and to see how he was assembled in the brief clip below.
Obviously Daniele has a love of both robots and LEGO. They come together here in a fascinating creation that looks just like it’s creator.
[via Gizmodo via Damn Geeky]
Feb 19
I’m always mesmerized by the intricate craftsmanship found in antique automatons. I think it’s something about the fact that people could build robotics without any electrical or electronic components that is truly amazing. One of the more incredible automatons to pop onto my radar screen of late is this mechanical caterpillar that dates back to 1820.
The Vers de Sois caterpillar was apparently created by Swiss clockmaker Henri Maillardet nearly 200 years ago. This detailed, jewel-encrusted caterpillar can actually crawl across a flat surface when wound up. Check it out in action:
Sure, it’s a bit noisy, but still impressive, no? Well, all of this incredible miniature automation doesn’t come cheap though. The Vers de Sois caterpillar recently sold at auction for over $415,000(USD). I think I’ll stick with my HexBugs for now.
[via Worldtempus via Neatorama via Richard Kadrey via Gizmodo]
Dec 25
This 200-Year-Old Mechanical Caterpillar Does Everything But Turn Into a Butterfly
Posted in: Today's Chili
Robots are so commonplace now that we use them to entertain kids at amusement parks. But even though modern technology has given us artificial lifeforms that can walk, talk, and even fly, there’s still something utterly fascinating about pre-electronic mechanical automatons like this Vers de Soie caterpillar dating back to 1820. More »
Jul 09
Watch This Creepy Robot Made in the 18th Century Come to Life Again [Video]
Posted in: Today's Chili Back in the 18th century, this automaton called ‘The Writer’ was built by Jaquet Droz. After more than 200 years, the robot has been reanimated and it’s way creepier than any robot made today. More »
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